That 'Giant Sad Lion' Music You're Hearing? That's Broods

Broods is the kind of band you want to listen to when the night has gone wrong…or kind of right. Really, it's the kind of band you want to listen to when you just want to feel something. And the sibling duo behind it, New Zealand-bred Georgia and Caleb Nott (20 and 22, respectively), want nothing more than to elicit emotion. But their latest single, "Mother and Father" (off their forthcoming 'Evergreen' album), speaks to a love not usually acknowledged on standard pop fare. Though the intro, with its thumping bass and creeping synth melody, sounds like Lorde's "Team" mixed with a Haim head-nodder, it's the lyrics that stand out: "But ever since I left my father, it's much harder to know," Georgia purrs as her brother, rocking a high-and-tight to rival mentor Sam Smith's, jams out with reckless abandon. "How to live my own life here, when all I need is home." And though the duo is on loan for the foreseeable future—they will open for Smith on 19 dates of his upcoming North American tour—the goofy pair clearly haven't lost sight of their roots. Below, the two riff on topics ranging from animalistic album inspirations to high school superlatives, and fan-girling. So much fan-girling.

First, let's talk about your name. Why did you pick Broods?

Georgia: Our manager brought it to us. At first we thought it sounded like some kind of disease, but we kind of mulled it over and realized how relevant it is. We write about really, quite emotional stuff, and we brood through writing, if that makes sense. Then it's got a reference to siblings with being a brood of birds. It's very vague, but it's there.

Four of your songs have been used on MTV's 'Catfish.' What was your initial reaction to your music getting the kind of exposure in the U.S.?

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Georgia: We spend about twenty minutes a day sitting on the couch like, 'What's going on, can you believe this?' And then twenty minutes jumping around the house going, 'Wooooo! This is great!'

Caleb: And then going, 'Fuck, how are we going to do this?'

You are about to go on a major tour supporting Sam Smith. How did that come about'?

Georgia: We are huge fans of Sam, and we always support people who we really fan-girl for. It's also kind of scary because we don't want to freak them out. We just [opened] for Ellie [Goulding]. She's the loveliest person ever. I was so scared that I was going to say or do something wrong.

Caleb: We've also fan-girled over Haim.

So why is the album called 'Evergreen'?

Georgia: We wrote a song called "Evergreen" about being everlasting and permanent in your lives. We want to make a mark on people. One of our goals is…

Caleb: Longevity.

Can you pick three words to describe this album…

Caleb: Giant sad lion.

Giant sad lion? Please explain…

Georgia: We have this effect that we sometimes use in our songs and we call it "the sad lion." It's like my voice dropped down an octave. When you think of a lion you think of a quite fierce animal. But a sad lion...there's just a spot in that lion that's vulnerable. Sometimes they just want a cuddle from the daddy lion.

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A lion does not want to cuddle with anyone.

Georgia: This lion does!

Caleb: You don't know this lion.

Who did you grow up listening to?

Georgia: When we were kids we listened to Neil Diamond.

You listened to Neil Diamond as a kid? What is wrong with you?

Caleb: I love Neil Diamond. I'm a big fan!

What is your favorite Neil Diamond song?

Caleb: "Kentucky Woman."

Georgia: We also listened to a lot of Eagles—our dad is, like, obsessed with the Eagles and Sting.

Did you listen to any artists that your parents didn't also listen to?

Caleb: Vengaboys maybe?

Georgia: My first cassette was Vengaboys; Caleb's was Ricky Martin.

So your fellow countrywoman Lorde is a big fan of yours…

Georgia: Well we're big fans of her as well. You've always got to back up all the Kiwi people. Because New Zealand is such a small place, everyone's very supportive. She's kind of paving the way, and we're getting to follow behind her and get some of the benefits of her hard work. [Laughs]

A few fun questions and I'll stop boring you. Do you guys have a hidden talent?

Caleb: I was pretty good at sports when I was in high school, but that's not very exciting. I was a lawn bowl champion.

A what?

Georgia: Lawn bowl. It's like what old people do. We both used to do it. I won the personality award.

Caleb: Yeah, I won the regional champs and she won the…best personality award.

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Photo: Stephen Tilley

What is the first thing on your mind when you wake up? I know, these are really deep questions.

Georgia: Probably, how long can I sleep until I have to get up?

Caleb: 'What the fuck am I doing today?' Or, 'Where am I?' Because it's usually a different place and you have to figure it out. Sometimes I room with my drummer, and every time he wakes up he stares at me for a good 20 seconds like, 'Who the fuck is this, and what are you doing here?'

What's your worst personality trait?

Caleb: Georgia is the worst listener on the planet. I'll say her name about 10 times, just slowly getting louder every time. Or you think you'll be talking to her, she'll be looking at you, then she'll go, 'Sorry, what?' She's also a very loving person; she's very family oriented and very loyal.

Georgia: I get sidetracked really easily. I'm pretty good at interviews. I just tune out Caleb's voice a lot.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Georgia: 'Teen Mom.' I love it so much.

If you could have dinner with someone dead or alive, who would it be?

Georgia: I'd love to sit down with Natasha from Bat for Lashes. She's my idol. Her way of songwriting is very influential on the way I like to experiment with writing.

Who is your style icon?

Georgia: We don't really have a specific style icon or labels. We're more like, 'Oh that looks cool.'

Caleb: When it comes to style I'm kind of schizophrenic. I like to dress up different every day. I was dressed very hip-hop yesterday, and now look at me: I look like a man who should have a cup of whiskey in his hand on the back of a shitty novel. Like a leather wing chair and a bookshelf. [Laughs] I'm Ron Burgundy today?